Paul F. Lurquin is Professor of Genetics at Washington State University, School of Molecular Biosciences, and former Chair (1991-1999) of the Department of Genetics and Cell Biology.

Lurquin's book is the first to describe accurately the history of plant genetic engineering. For students labouring at the bench and getting frustrated at the lack of reproducibility of their experiments, reading this work will provide reassurance. Even scientists who are no longer at the bench... will find it an important reminder that research is a demanding task, with much disappointment and controversy, and few successes. Nature

• Appendix 1. Cesium Chloride Density Gradients and Their Use in DNA Analysis. Appendix 2. Hybridization Experiments with DNA. Appendix 3. What Classical Genetics Says About Transformation Experiments. Appendix 4. Plasmids, Transposons, and Horizontal Gene Transfer in Bacteria. Appendix 5. Liposomes. Appendix 6. Cell Electroporation. 1. Where it all Began. 2. Genetic Experiments. 3. The Crown Gall Breakthrough. 4. Direct Gene Transfer. 5. Where We Are Now, and the Future.

Paul F. Lurquin is Professor of Genetics at Washington State University, School of Molecular Biosciences, and former Chair (1991-1999) of the Department of Genetics and Cell Biology.

Lurquin's book is the first to describe accurately the history of plant genetic engineering. For students labouring at the bench and getting frustrated at the lack of reproducibility of their experiments, reading this work will provide reassurance. Even scientists who are no longer at the bench... will find it an important reminder that research is a demanding task, with much disappointment and controversy, and few successes. Nature

• Appendix 1. Cesium Chloride Density Gradients and Their Use in DNA Analysis. Appendix 2. Hybridization Experiments with DNA. Appendix 3. What Classical Genetics Says About Transformation Experiments. Appendix 4. Plasmids, Transposons, and Horizontal Gene Transfer in Bacteria. Appendix 5. Liposomes. Appendix 6. Cell Electroporation. 1. Where it all Began. 2. Genetic Experiments. 3. The Crown Gall Breakthrough. 4. Direct Gene Transfer. 5. Where We Are Now, and the Future.

Paul F. Lurquin is Professor of Genetics at Washington State University, School of Molecular Biosciences, and former Chair (1991-1999) of the Department of Genetics and Cell Biology.

Lurquin's book is the first to describe accurately the history of plant genetic engineering. For students labouring at the bench and getting frustrated at the lack of reproducibility of their experiments, reading this work will provide reassurance. Even scientists who are no longer at the bench... will find it an important reminder that research is a demanding task, with much disappointment and controversy, and few successes. Nature

• Appendix 1. Cesium Chloride Density Gradients and Their Use in DNA Analysis. Appendix 2. Hybridization Experiments with DNA. Appendix 3. What Classical Genetics Says About Transformation Experiments. Appendix 4. Plasmids, Transposons, and Horizontal Gene Transfer in Bacteria. Appendix 5. Liposomes. Appendix 6. Cell Electroporation. 1. Where it all Began. 2. Genetic Experiments. 3. The Crown Gall Breakthrough. 4. Direct Gene Transfer. 5. Where We Are Now, and the Future.